A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

Fourthly / if we refer those words without spot or blemish unto the commandment (as I for my part think they ought to be) then there is a weight in these words not to be passed over / which is / that the apostle will not only have the rules here contained / not trodden under the feet / or broken in pieces / but he will not have them so much as in any one small point or speck neglected. But I see how M. Doctor will wipe away all this / and say that these things / or some of them were to be observed thus necessarily and precisely / until there were christian princes and peace in the church: but the print is deeper then that it will be so washed away. Therefore it is to be observed / what he sayeth in the latter end of the sentence / where he chargeth Timothy / and in him all / that he should keep all these things / not until the time of peace / or to the times of Christian Princes / but even until the coming or appearing of our saviour Christ / which is as long as the world lasteth. And therefore I conclude that the seigniors or elders of the church (being a part of that order and government of the church / which S. Paul appointeth in this Epistle) are necessary / perpetual / and by no means to be changed. So that we have / not only now the examples of all the primitive churches (which ought to move us / if there were no commandment) but ⟨p. 178⟩we have also a straight commandment: I say the only examples ought to move us / for what way can we safelyer follow / then the common high way / beaten and trodden by the steps of all the Apostles / and of all the churches? Things also growing / and being preserved by the same means by the which they were engendered / why should we think but that the churches now will prosper by that government / whereby it first came up? But I say we have not only the examples of the churches / but we have also commandment and straight charge to keep this office of elders and ancients in the church / and therefore it is not only rashness in leaving the way that the Apostles and churches by the Apostles advise have gone / but disobedience also to depart from their commandment / and to maintain and defend that we may do so / I can almost give it no gentler name then rebellion.

Fourthly / if we refer those wordes without spot or blemish vnto the commaundement (as I for my part thinke they ought to be) then there is a waight in these words not to be passed ouer / which is / yt the apostle will not only haue the rules heere contayned / not troden vnder the feete / or broken in peeces / but hee will not haue them so much as in any one small poynt or specke neglected. But I see how M. Doctor will wype away all thys / and say that these thinges / or some of them were to bee obserued thus necessarily and precisely / vntill there were christian prynces and peace in the churche: but the print is deeper then that it will bee so washed away. Therefore it is to be obserued / what he sayeth in the latter end of the sentence / where he chargeth Timothe / and in hym all / that hee should keepe all these things / not vntill the tyme of peace / or to the times of Christian Princes / but euen vntill the comming or appearing of our sauiour Christ / which is as long as the world lasteth. And therfore I conclude that the seigniors or elders of the church (being a part of that order and gouernment of the church / which S. Paule appoynteth in thys Epistle) are necessary / perpetuall / and by no meanes to be changed. So that we haue / not only now the examples of all the primitiue churches (which ought to moue vs / if there were no commaundement) but